leech

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈlēch

plural leeches

[from its former use by physicians for bleeding patients] : any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking usually freshwater annelid worms (class Hirudinea) that have typically a flattened lanceolate segmented body with a sucker at each end

: a hanger-on who seeks advantage or gain

a celebrity surrounded by leeches who only want his money

archaic : physician, surgeon

leechlike

ˈlēch-ˌlīk How to pronounce leech (audio)

adjective

leech

2 of 3

verb

leeched; leeching; leeches

intransitive verb

: to attach oneself to a person as a leech

… she would leech on to him and drain the life out of him.

W. L. Gresham

transitive verb

: to bleed by the use of leeches

: to drain the substance of : exhaust

… bankers who had always leeched them white.

D. A. Munro

leech

3 of 3

noun (2)

ˈlēch

variants or less commonly leach

: either vertical edge of a square sail

: the after edge of a fore-and-aft sail

Medical Definition

leech 1 of 2

noun

ˈlēch

: any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking annelid worms that comprise the class Hirudinea, that typically have a flattened segmented lance-shaped body with well-marked external annulations, a sucker at each end, a mouth within the anterior sucker, and a large stomach with pouches of large capacity at the sides, that are hermaphroditic usually with direct development, and that occur chiefly in freshwater although a few are marine and some tropical forms are terrestrial see medicinal leech

leech

2 of 2

transitive verb

: to treat as a physician : cure, heal

: to bleed by the use of leeches

单词	leeching
释义	leech 1 of 3 noun (1) ˈlēch plural leeches 1 [from its former use by physicians for bleeding patients] : any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking usually freshwater annelid worms (class Hirudinea) that have typically a flattened lanceolate segmented body with a sucker at each end 2 : a hanger-on who seeks advantage or gain a celebrity surrounded by leeches who only want his money 3 archaic : physician, surgeon leechlike ˈlēch-ˌlīk adjective leech 2 of 3 verb leeched; leeching; leeches intransitive verb : to attach oneself to a person as a leech … she would leech on to him and drain the life out of him. W. L. Gresham transitive verb 1 : to bleed by the use of leeches 2 : to drain the substance of : exhaust … bankers who had always leeched them white. D. A. Munro leech 3 of 3 noun (2) ˈlēch variants or less commonly leach 1 : either vertical edge of a square sail 2 : the after edge of a fore-and-aft sail Synonyms Noun (1) bloodsucker freeloader free rider hanger-on moocher parasite sponge sponger See all Synonyms & Antonyms Word History Etymology Noun (1) and Verb Middle English leche, from Old English lǣce; akin to Old High German lāhhi physician Noun (2) Middle English leche; akin to Middle Low German līk boltrope First Known Use Noun (1) before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3 Verb 1641, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Noun (2) 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing leech medicinal leech medicinal leech Kids Definition leech noun ˈlēch 1 : a bloodsucking worm related to the earthworm 2 : a person who stays around other people and uses them for personal gain Medical Definition leech 1 of 2 noun ˈlēch : any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking annelid worms that comprise the class Hirudinea, that typically have a flattened segmented lance-shaped body with well-marked external annulations, a sucker at each end, a mouth within the anterior sucker, and a large stomach with pouches of large capacity at the sides, that are hermaphroditic usually with direct development, and that occur chiefly in freshwater although a few are marine and some tropical forms are terrestrial see medicinal leech leech 2 of 2 transitive verb 1 : to treat as a physician : cure, heal 2 : to bleed by the use of leeches leeching verb present participle of leech as in freeloading Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance freeloading sponging mooching exploiting begging using
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leech

noun (1)

verb

noun (2)

Synonyms

Word History

Phrases Containing leech

Kids Definition

noun

Medical Definition

noun

transitive verb

verb